Effectiveness of an undergraduate leadership conference in building leadership capabilities of women and non-binary students

Abstract

The ANU Women* in STEM Leadership Conference, established in 2021, is an annual program that aims to help undergraduate STEM students at the Australian National University (ANU) build their leadership skills, gain networking opportunities and form a stronger community of support. This case study presents an evaluation of the impact of the Conference across two years of attendees, using both interviews and surveys. We show outcomes for participants primarily fall within three areas: networks and connections, resources and information, and leadership and capacity building. Immediately following conference participation, participants showed increases in connection within the STEM community, greater understanding of future pathways available to them and confidence in themselves as STEM students and leaders. Through evaluation of the Conference, we identify lessons learnt regarding the organisation, design and facilitation of the event to ensure longevity of participant outcomes. These findings are also intended to inform the implementation of other gender equity events within the tertiary sector.